Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Watrous, New Mexico 87112
Tuesady, February 23, 1982 21:35 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE HELICOPTER STRUCK POWER AND COMMUNICATION LINES AFTER TAKING OFF AT NIGHT. AFTER HITTING THE LINES, IT CRASHED INTO A RAILROAD GRADE AND BRIDGE. THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE DEPARTURE POINT. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION. IT WAS NOTED THAT THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS FOR THE FUEL BOOST PUMP AND THE MASTER CAUTION SYSTEMS WERE OPEN. A TOXICOLOGICAL CHECK OF THE PILOT'S BLOOD REVEALED 266 MG PERCENT OF ETHYL ALCOHOL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/23/1982
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2135
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City WATROUS
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87112
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 2100
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID LVS
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 45
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 501
NTSB Notification Source
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2272D
NTSB Number FTW82FQA15
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model 206B
Aircraft Series Identifier 206B
Aircraft Serial Number 3551
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 54
Airframe Hours 164
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DOOLITTLE ENTERPRISES INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3636 MENAUL N.E.
Aircraft Owner City ALBUQUERQUE
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 87108
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DOOLITTLE ENTERPRISES INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 3636 MENAUL N.E.
Operator City ALBUQUERQUE
Operator State NM
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 87108
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City DOOLITTLE RANCH
Departure State NM
Departure Country
Departure Time 2400
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City ALBUQUERQUE
Destination State NM
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 26 2003 3:05PM
User who most recently changed record JOHB
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --